"Amazon's speakers have a new look-and new leaders-with the newest lineup of the brand's Echo devices. Amazon's fall hardware event in September announced the next frontier of the Alexa-powered speakers, but strangely enough, none of them was a fifth-generation Echo. Instead, Amazon has leaned in to two specific speakers: the Echo Dot, now named the Echo Dot Max and costing what the main, full-size Echo used to, and the immersive speaker powerhouse that is the Echo Studio, now in its second generation."
"Perhaps Amazon is finally planning on cutting down its lineup to focus on the best of the best. We've long recommended the Echo Dot and Echo Studio as some of the best of Amazon's overcrowded Echo lineup, and no other smart speaker maker offers as many options. Several Echo models have also had limited to zero availability this year, including the screen-equipped Echo Show 10 (which the new-generation Echo Show 8 and 11, due out in November, seem primed to replace) and the once-flagship Echo."
Amazon updated its Echo lineup with a redesigned Echo Dot Max and a second-generation Echo Studio. Both speakers deliver richer, more powerful sound and include a smart-home hub. Physical controls were simplified with easier buttons and tap controls. The Echo Dot Max includes Alexa+ without a waiting list. Some touchpoints include potential for buttons to show oil stains from skin contact. The Echo Dot Max carries a higher price—about twice that of past Dot models—while the Echo Studio remains an expensive, immersive option. Several other Echo models have limited availability, suggesting a possible consolidation toward core, higher-end devices.
Read at WIRED
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